Hatton's lawyer confirms fight in Las Vegas with Pacquiao is on for May

Ricky Hatton will fight Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2 after receiving a contract signed by the Filipino superstar.

Following weeks of protracted negotiations surrounding Pacquiao's increased financial demands, the fight will now go ahead and a press conference will be held on Thursday to officially announce the contest.

Hatton's lawyer Gareth Williams told this afternoon he is in possession of the contract, which the Mancunian will sign as soon as it has been checked.

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Number one: Hatton signals to the crowd after beating Paulie Malignaggi in November and will sign a new contract to fight Pacquiao next May soon

Williams confirmed the fight will be held at the MGM Grand in Vegas, where Hatton suffered his only career defeat by Floyd Mayweather Jr in December 2007.

'We have got the contract, signed by Manny,' said Williams.

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He revealed Hatton has yet to sign the contract - purely due to logistics with Williams being in London today - but said: "It won't be a problem and we'll announce the fight at a press conference on Thursday. All the pressure is off now.'

The deal follows weeks of uncertainty after it emerged Pacquiao wanted to renegotiate financial terms despite having agreed a 50-50 split before Christmas.

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Williams said on Thursday that the fight was 'dead in the water' for the time being - but admitted the appearance of a signed contract would force them to reconsider.

Yet Pacquiao's promoters Top Rank declared on Friday the fight was back on after Pacquiao, currently the world's leading fighter, agreed late last week to share the proceeds equally with the Mancunian.

Pacquiao had released a statement on Thursday reiterating his desire to fight Hatton and stating his desire to get it on 'without the middlemen' before finally signing the contract.

Hatton's American promoters, Golden Boy, had begun early negotiations with possible alternative opponents Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr, but the 'Hitman' has now secured the fight he really wanted after stopping Paulie Malignaggi in November.